Insights

Every year around or on 21 June, something rather wonderful happens. The Summer Solstice arrives, gifting us the longest day of the year and a reminder that light has a remarkable ability to reveal what has been hidden. 🌞 Stonehenge sunset solstice For many people, the Summer Solstice passes by as little more than a date on the calendar, perhaps accompanied by photos of Stonehenge and a vague awareness that it stays light until nearly bedtime. Yet for those navigating career

Last week was Volunteers' Week 2026, a national celebration of the incredible people who give their time, energy and skills to support causes they care about. 🌟 A few years ago, but this Crisis At Christmas Rough Sleeping team, was one of my favourite years. Now, if you've been following my recent articles, you may have noticed a bit of a pattern emerging. At the moment, I seem to be running about a week behind on my chosen topics! So, my apologies for arriving fashionably l

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and yes, I know I'm a little late to the party. In my defence, I was busy celebrating my 50th birthday in what can only be described as spectacular style. I headed off to an amazing music festival completely on my own. 🎶💃 And before you ask, yes, it was absolutely fantastic. My butterfly costume looked fab in the breeze! At some point during the weekend, after a conversation with a lovely woman in the toilets at 4am, I somehow managed t

When I first began perimenopause, I didn’t know that’s what it was. Like many women in the UK, I went to my GP exhausted, emotional, forgetful and struggling to think clearly. Instead of a conversation about hormones, I was initially diagnosed with depression. 🫠 And honestly? For a while, I genuinely thought I might be developing early onset dementia. I was forgetting words mid-sentence. Walking into rooms and forgetting why. Re-reading emails three times. Losing my train of

If coaching were a person, it wouldn’t sit quietly in the corner sipping tea. It would be out in the street, sleeves rolled up, gently but persistently asking better questions until something shifts. 🌱 Anyone that knows me will know this is a staged shot, i don't have my water or pen and pad! International Coaching Week 2026 is a timely reminder that coaching isn’t just about polishing CVs or climbing ladders. At its best, it’s a quiet revolution. One conversation at a time,

There’s something gloriously symbolic about the May Day Bank Holiday in the UK. The daffodils are past their dramatic “look at me” phase, the trees have stopped pretending they’re dead, and suddenly everyone’s buying garden furniture with the optimism of a Victorian poet. 🌿☀️ Spring doesn’t just wake up nature. It wakes up questions. Am I happy? Am I exhausted? Why do I have seventeen tabs open in my brain at all times? And when exactly did “surviving the week” become my per

April 2026 is Stress Awareness Month. If stress were a colleague, it would be that one who turns up uninvited, eats your lunch, rewrites your priorities, and then leaves you holding the mess. 😏 For many professional women, especially those navigating career shifts, menopause, or workplace pressure, stress doesn’t just knock politely. It barges in, kicks off its shoes, and sets up camp. The problem? Most people are trying to manage stress with surface-level fixes, rather th

Every Earth Day (April 22), we hear the same well-meaning messages about recycling, reducing waste, and protecting the planet. But here’s the uncomfortable mirror moment: many professionals are still treating their own careers like single-use plastic. Use it. Burn it. Replace it. Repeat. That is not a career strategy. That is quiet burnout dressed up as ambition. And frankly, it is rubbish. If your career had an environmental footprint, would it be a thriving ecosystem… or a

This week, I read a LinkedIn review that stopped me mid-scroll… not because it was polished (although it was), but because it captured something many people struggle to articulate. The client spoke about the power of blending coaching, mentoring and HR expertise… about navigating “the full picture of work and life ”… and most importantly, about experiencing a mindset shift that didn’t feel overwhelming, but instead built through small, manageable steps. That last bit? That’s

If Easter had a message for our careers, it wouldn’t just be about chocolate eggs (although, let’s be honest, they help). It would be about renewal, rebirth, and perhaps most importantly… reassessment. Because for many women, careers have quietly been built on a foundation of sacrifice. Not always consciously. Not always willingly. But consistently. We say yes when we mean maybe. We stretch when we’re already exhausted. We prioritise being “helpful” over being heard . And som

Let’s be honest.If hormones had a LinkedIn profile, they’d be listed under: “ Influences everything but rarely gets credit.” From confidence in meetings to whether you can remember why you opened that email (again), hormone health is quietly shaping women’s careers every single day . And yet — in most workplaces — it’s still treated like a “personal issue” rather than a professional reality. Its time to get real about hormone health... for the business. As a career coach work

On 20th March , something rather magical (and scientifically precise) happened. The Earth tilted itself into perfect balance — not leaning towards or away from the sun — gifting us a rare moment where day and night stand almost equal. Lovely, isn’t it? Balancing the seasons: Winter and Spring. But beyond the astronomy, the Spring Equinox offers something even more powerful: a gentle nudge to pause, reassess, and perhaps… bloom. For those of us navigating leadership, careers

If AI were a colleague, it would be that wildly efficient new starter who can draft meeting notes in 12 seconds, reorganise a spreadsheet before your tea goes cold, and still leave everyone slightly suspicious about what exactly it is planning next. For professional women in the UK, artificial intelligence is not some distant sci-fi plotline . It is already shaping recruitment, job design, promotion pathways, skills expectations and, quite frankly, the mood music of work itse

We’ve just celebrated International Women's Day on 8 March – a moment when the world reflects on the achievements and contributions of women everywhere. And this coming Sunday is Mothering Sunday in the UK, a day traditionally dedicated to appreciating the women who nurture families and communities. Both occasions are lovely reminders of how much women give to others. Sharing insights and ideas: meaningful conversations that spark growth and connection. Who is looking after

On International Women’s Day (Sunday 8th March) , we celebrate progress — but we also pause to challenge the leadership narratives that still shape how women experience power, influence, and opportunity at work. T his article is for women who have gathered experience, perspective, and resilience over the course of their careers. Women who have led teams, navigated complexity, and delivered results — yet are now asking deeper questions about meaning , impact , and how they wan

You know that feeling? It’s like standing barefoot in the middle of a muddy field: you can’t go back to the role, career or identity you’ve outgrown — but you also don’t know where the path ahead actually starts. Welcome to the awkward middle . Working out what you want to do next doesn't need to be too tricky. This is the space many people find themselves in during a career transition: no longer aligned with what they were doing, but unsure how to articulate what comes next

February can feel like a long, grey stretch — especially if you’re in the middle of a career change. Whether you’re navigating redundancy, re-evaluating your professional identity, managing menopause-related shifts, or simply feeling the nudge that something has to change , this time of year can heighten uncertainty and self-doubt. There are many ways to offer an act of kindness.... Against this backdrop sits Random Acts of Kindness Week , anchored by Random Acts of Kindness

This week includes Valentine’s Day , a day that I’m more inclined to call Galentine’s Day (being a single woman and all). So I thought I’d write an article about women loving themselves — because honestly, if we can’t turn our own potential into a lifelong love affair, why is anyone else lining up to dance with us? Welcome to the compassionate, slightly irresistible world of loving you — your career, your choices, and yes, that amazing brain tucked behind your glasses (eye

I’ve just returned from a long weekend in Ireland, where 1 February is celebrated as St Brigid’s Day. While St Brigid herself is fascinating, I found myself more drawn to the older roots of the day: Imbolc, the Celtic festival that marks the very beginning of spring. Imbolc is associated with Brigid the Goddess – a powerful, pre-Christian figure from Irish mythology. Brigid represents wisdom, protection, creativity and personal growth. She is also known as a guardian of th

We’ve all been there — that awkward stage in life when it feels like the universe nudged (or shoved) us off the treadmill and into the metaphorical ball pit of confusion. One minute you’re on track, the next you’re wondering why your professional life resembles a slightly chaotic rom-com montage. But take heart: rough patches are not derailments . They’re more like… unexpected intermissions with free snacks. Yes, you can get your career back on track — with clarity, confiden